Scooter starter unit



Nov. 27, 1951 F. A. ELLIOTT 2,576,582

SCOOTER STARTER UNIT Filed Jan. 18, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 3 v v u IN VENTOR.

1951 F. A. ELLIOTT SCOOTER STARTER UNIT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1946 INVENTOR.

1Q CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmfi 171090719. Z'Zlz 'azzi ATTD RN EYS Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,576,582 soooTER STARTER UNIT Floyd-A. Elliott, san Diego, Calif. Application January 18, 1946, SerialNo. 642,026

- 1 Claim. (01. 74- -6) This invention relates to a starter unit for a power scooter and more particularly tcan electrical starter, the primary object of which is to eliminate the mechanical ratchet kick starter in use at the present time.

The unit starts any scooter in approximately ten seconds. It also eliminates the possibilities of a kick-back thereby injuring the operator thereof. Any pers onwho is partially disabled can start a scooter equipped with this type of starter unit. Whereas with the kick type of starter a person handicapped physically could not enjoy a scooter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a starter unit that is simple in operation, durable in use and can be easily installed on a scooter.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the starter unit as installed on a scooter;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section and partly broken away to more clearly show the drive connection of the scooter and its associations with the starter unit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral I designates a standard electrical starter which is mounted on by means of fasteners 12 to the upper end of a vertical angle bar support l4, the lower end of which is secured to the frame [6 of the scooter I8 by welding or any other well known means I9.

Mounted on the support I4 by means of fasteners in a position below the starter Ill is the standard solenoid starter switch 22, having one lead 24 thereof connected to the starter H1 in the usual manner, the other lead 26 being connected to a storage battery 28 secured to the frame I6 of the scooter I8 at some convenient location, and the battery is provided with the usual ground connection not shown.

The starter I0 is provided with a V-pulley 36 on the drive shaft 32 thereof which is connected to the V-pulley 34 on the drive shaft 36 of the internal combustion engine A for the scooter i8 by the V-belt 38. The drive shaft 36 is connected to the motor drive shaft by the coupling 31. The drive shaft 36 has the member 33 of the clutch mechanism 39 fixed thereto and this member is adapted to ooact with the freely running member 35. The clutch mechanism being of the 2 centrifugal type so that the increase in speed of the shaft 36 will cause the clutch mechanism to operate 'I'he'pulley 34'has the usual fasteners 46 connected to the drive shaft 36. To prevent displacementthe fasteners 46 are connected by the wire 42 and a belt drive 43 engaging a pulley-4| on the drive shaft 36 is trained over the pulley 45 mounted on the shaft 43 ofthe generator to cause. rotation of the generator 44 shown in Figure 1 The generator being mounted on the motor A of the scooter l8 and the chain drive 46 from the clutch on the-clutch drive sprocket 45 on the member 35 of the clutch mechanism 39 is trained over the sprocket drive wheel 48 on the rear wheel 50 whereby rotary motion may be transmitted to the rear wheel 50 of the scooter I8.

Pivotally connected to the lower end of the support l4 by means of a bolt 52 having the bushing 53 thereon is the foot actuating lever 54 having the pedal knob 56 on the free end thereof.

The lever 54 mounts the rubber block 58 by means of the bolt 60 and a contact bolt 62 mounted in the rubber block 58 is connected to the switch 22 by the primary lead 64.

Pivotally connected to the lever 54 forwardly of the block 58 by means of the bolt '65 is the lower end of the connecting link 66, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to belt tensioning levers 68 by the bolt 10. The levers '68 are formed in parallel relation to each other by bolts '16 and 12 on which are mounted the roller bearings 14 and a third bolt 16 having a bushing 11 thereon, intermediate the levers 68 is adapted to pivotally connect the levers to the support l4, a bushingon the bolt intermediate the levers and support properly positioning the levers with relation to the support.

The belt 38 passes intermediately of the rollers 14 so that when the lever 54 is depressed the belt will be tightened causing the rotation of the drive shaft 36 by the starter at the same time the lever 54 is depressed the bolt 62 makes contact with the frame thus energizing the starter.

A spring 81] connected at one end to the lever 54 and at the other end to the support I4 tensions the lever 54 to keep it in raised inoperative position at all times except when depressed by the foot at which time the spring will return the lever to inoperative position upon release of the foot from the lever.

This assembly when mounted on the scooter requires moving the gas tank of the scooter and the reassembling thereof in the forward luggage compartment and adding an additional length of fuel line. The right side of the scooter cowling will also have to be reformed to accommodate the unit.

As previously stated the operation of the unit is caused by depressing the lever 54, causing the contact bolt to complete the circuit through the starter frame and tensioning the belt to cause rotation of the drive shaft 36 by the starter. After the motor has started increase in the rotation thereof will cause the clutch members 33 and 35 to engage to cause the rotation of the wheel 50 and subsequent driving of the scooter in the usual manner. a

It is believed that the operation and construction of the unit will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction, arrangementand combination of parts may be resorted to provid I ing they fall within the spirit of the invention abelt driveforconnec ting said starter to a driven means; manually actuated means for tensioning said belt drive to cause rotation of said driven v means by said starter, said last means comprisin a pair of spaced upper levers and a lower lever pivotally connected at their inner ends to said support in spaced relation to each other, a link connected at its lower end to the lower lever and at its upper end to the upper levers, a roller rotatably mounted intermediate of the upper parallel levers at their outer ends, a second roller rotatably mounted intermediate of the upper levers at the point of connection of the link with the upper levers, and said rollers are mounted for coaction with said belt drive, a pedal connected to the outer end of said lower lever whereby 'pres'sure of said pedal causes said rollers to engage and tension said belt drive and spring means connected to said lower lever and said support'to' return said lower lever upwardly after the depression thereof.

" FLOYD A. ELLIOTT.

--REFERE NCES CITED Theffollowing references are of record m the- Number 4 Name 7 i 804,980 -Reiss Nov. 21; 1905 1,879,878 Leyvastre Sept. 27, 1932 

